Cat Shows : a Comparison Between Different Federations by Marie-Bernadette PAUTET (La Chacolaterie)

Cat shows : A Comparison Between Different Federations by Marie-Bernadette PAUTET (la Chacolaterie) Most of the cat shows organized in France are the contrary, the American-style judgement done according to the rules of the French avoids this drawback, since the result of the day federation LOOF. But there are many other ways will not be the evaluation of one single person, in which these feline beauty contests called cat but a sum of the cat results in all the rings. shows can be handled. After having summarized However, the cat must be able to stand being how a "traditional" cat show works (shows moved all day long and being handled a dozen of organized under LOOF, FIFe, WCF or GCCF times a day ! rules for instance), the "American" type of cat shows (CFA, TICA) is described and the way in which the cats gain their championship titles is « Traditional » Shows compared in these different federations. In a traditional European-style show, whether following the LOOF rules like most cat shows held in France, the rules of the « Trad » or « Ring » ? Fédération Internationale In a so-called "traditional" cat show, Féline (FIFe), the ones of the each cat is evaluated by a single World Cat Federation or judge per show day. This judge those of any other must look in detail at all aspects of independent club, the way it the cat and write a report where he works is very similar. Every describes how the cat conforms to cat is being evaluated by a its breed standard. single judge, who writes a report on the cat describing its qualities and defaults Depending on the cat show, this compared to the relevant evaluation may be done in presence breed standard, and decides of the cat's owner to whom the to award a certificate to the judge may want to explain what he cat or not (obtaining its thinks of the cat, or in a more anonymous fashion certificate is often called "getting its point" for without the exhibitor being there. The extreme FIFe members). This certificate of aptitude is case is the one of GCCF (Governing Council of awarded for a given level, according to the titles the Cat Fancy, a British federation), where all the cat has won already. If several cats of the exhibitors must leave the show hall while the same breed and colour compete in the same judges examine the cats. class, only one of them can gain its certificate, In all cases, at the end of the show, the exhibitor even if the others would be worth it should there keeps a copy of the judge report. be no competition. I witnessed once a cat show where 10 chartreux females (obviously of the same colour : blue !) were competing in the CAC On the opposite, in an "American-style" show, the class (the first open class for adult cats) : only judge officiates in a "ring", and the stress is put on one got her CAC certificate. When several cats, the cat handling and presentation in front of the like in this example, compete in the same class, public. There is no detailed written report per cat, the judge sorts them out by order of preference but each cat will see every judge in turn. The and gives them the mentions "excellent", "very judges will sort the cats by preference order good" or "good" followed by a number indicating within each of a number of classes, which are their rank among the cats having had the same quite different from those used in the "traditional" mention. For example, if 7 cats were competing shows (for instance, males and females are together in the same class, one possible outcome compared together). could be "excellent 1", "excellent 2", "excellent 3", "excellent 4", "very good 1", "very good 2", So, the traditional judgement is probably better at "good". Only the cat classified "excellent 1" would giving the cat owner a more detailed idea of what get the championship certificate. his or her cat is worth compared to its breed These terms are chosen to please the exhibitor standard, but this evaluation may vary according (her cat being the most beautiful in the world, to the proficiency of the judge for this breed... On Cat shows : A Comparison Between Different Federations - © Marie-Bernadette Pautet page 1 that's well known !!!). In fact, their meaning is as double advice or maximise its chances of having follows (ref. to the LOOF rules) : its certificate abroad). The FIFe also applies this excellent : cat very close to the breed standard, general principle of "one day, one certificate presented in perfect physical condition, (maximum)". harmonious, balanced, i.e. whose little These certificates are awarded to adult cats. In imperfections are negligible compared to its LOOF cat shows, a cat is deemed adult as soon qualities ; as he is 10 months old on the day of the show. In very good (understand average...) : cat having FIFe cat shows the same rule applies. In other the major breed characteristics but showing federations, the age to be an adult cat may vary, some important faults, though not eliminatory, for instance it is often 9 months old in Belgium. compared to the breed standard ; Younger cats are called kittens and can also participate in cat shows, but the certificates they good (understand not quite good !) : cat not obtain do not build up to reach a championship having enough type, without any major quality title. According either to LOOF or FIFe rules, the or in bad condition. minimum age to participate to a cat show is 3 With certain clubs, it is possible to two months old. Some clubs, in Belgium or judgements the same day, by two different judges Switzerland for instance, allow even younger ; this is the case in some German or Swiss kittens to take part, in a so-called "baby" class (as shows. Only one of the awarded certificates will individual cats) or "nest" class (the whole litter be recognised by LOOF (which does not preclude together), and this as young as 10 weeks old ! the cat to register for both, in order to have a Les particularités des expos GCCF (Royaume Uni) The rules of GCCF are very strict as long as judges have not finished to evaluate the cats : the "decoration" of the cage must be restricted to a white bowl for water, a white litter pan, a white blanket without any identification of the cat or cattery. Exhibitors must not talk to the judges as long as they are not finished judging ALL cats, under the penalty of being disqualified. Both exhibitors and visitors must leave the show hall while the judges are proceeding with judging the open classes. In fact, the judges typically move a trolley along the aisles, and get each cat in turn out of its cage onto the trolley where they judge it. This method applies for all open classes (those for which certificates are awarded), and this process usually takes more or less all morning. Once having finished all the open classes, then everybody can relax a bit : cats are allowed some food in their cages, as well as a few toys. During the afternoon, the show goes on with the "side classes", some of which are really just fun classes. Many different combinations can be imagined for the side classes, such as age groups, competition level, month of birth, club affiliation, distance travelled to attend the show, or even tail length, best Abyssinian smile, most cute Somali, etc. Every cat must register in several classes, typically between 4 and 6 classes. The strict rules explained here do not apply to the "Supreme Show", where only the best cats of the season may attend, and where cages are lavishly decorated. In this very special (and famous) show, the cats are held by assessors and brought to a ring where the judge performs its evaluations in front of the public, but always (at least theoretically) in an anonymous fashion. There are quite a few differences between the number of points the cat must score compared to championship titles awarded by the different a total of 100 (for the "perfect cat" described by federations, and these differences most often the breed standard). The following table concern the number of certificates necessary to compares the conditions to obtain titles in LOOF, obtain the corresponding title, as well as the WCF and FIFe (according to 2007 rules). For Cat shows : A Comparison Between Different Federations - © Marie-Bernadette Pautet page 2 each of these federations, the table includes two one gives the minimum number of points the cat columns: the first one gives the number of must score for this level of certificate. certificates required for each title, and the second LOOF FIFe WCF Champion 3 CAC ( 2 judges) 93 3 CAC (3 judges) 93 3 CAC (3 judges) 93 3 CACIB (3 judges) International 3 CACIB (3 judges) 3 CACIB (3 judges) in 2 different countries 95 95 95 Champion in 2 different countries in 2 different countries (including France) 6 CAGCIB ( 3 judges) Great 4 CAGCI ( 3 judges) in 3 different countries 3 CAGCIB (3 judges) International in 2 different countries 96 96 97 or 8 CAGCIB ( 4 judges) in 2 different countries Champion (including France) in 2 different countries 9 CACS ( 3 judges) European 5 CACE ( 4 judges) in 3 different countries 3 CACE (3 judges) 97 97 97 Champion * with at least 2 abroad ou 11 CACS ( 6 judges) in 3 different countries in 2 different countries Great 5 CAGCE ( 5 judges) 3 GCACE (3 judges) European with at least 3 abroad in 2 98 - - 97 in 3 different countries Champion different countries 3 CACM (3 judges) World - - - - in 3 different countries 98 Champion spanning 2 continents * The European Champion title has been renamed Supreme Champion in FIFe CAC = "Certificat d'Aptitude au Championnat", Championship Aptitude Certificate CACIB = "Cert.

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